Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-11-11


ment, indeedl AS if the whole world
didn't know that the general was taken
by surprise when my lady came riding up
from Virginia with all those fine cavaliers,
just to see what his excellency was doing
at these assembly balls. And fine doings,
dare say"
",rhs is but idle gossip, Thankful"
said Capt. Brewster with the faintest APP
penrance of self consciousness; "the as
sembly balls are conceived by the general
to strengthen the confidence of the towns
folk, and mitigate the rigor of the winter
encampment. go there myself rarely:
| have but little taste for junketing and
gavotting, with my country in such need.
No, Thankful what we want is leader;
and the men of Connecticut feel it keenly.
If l have been spoken of in that regard"
added the captain with n slight initiation
of his manly breast, cit is because they
know of my sacrifices-because as New
England yeomen they know my devotion
to the cause. They know of my suffer
ing''-
The bright face that looked into his was
suddenly aflre with womanly sympathy,
the pretty brow was knit, the sweet eyes
overlooked with tenderness. Forgive
me, Allan. 1 forgot-perhaps, lovc--pcr
haps, dearest, you are hungry now
''No, not now" replied Capt. Brewster,
with gloomy stoicism; "yet," he added,
cit is nearly week since 1 have tasted
meat"
"I-I-brought few things with me, :"
continued the girl, with certain hesitat-
ing timidty She reached down and pro-
duced basket from the shadow of the
wall. "Thcse chickens''-she held up a
pair of pullets-''the commander-n-chcf
himself could not buy; l kept them for
my commander And this pot of MARINA
lade, which l know my Allan loves, is the
same l put up last summer. l thought
livery tenderly] you might like piece of
that bacon you liked so once, dear. All,
sweetheart, shall we ever sit down to our
little board? Shall we ever see the end of
| this awful war? Don't you think, dear
| livery pleadinglyl it would be best to give
| it up? King George is not such u very
bad man, is he? I've thought sweetheart
| livery confidently, that mayhap you and
! he might make it all up without the aid
of those WashingtonS, who do nothing
| but starve one to death. And if the kinl
| only knew you Allan-should see you a,
L do, sweetheart-he'd do just as yor
| say"
| During this speech she handed him th,
| several articles alluded to; and he re
| ceived them, storing them away in sucl
receptaces of his clothing as were conve
nient-with this notable difference, tina
/, with her the act was graceful and pic
turesque; with him there was a ludicrous
ness of suggestion that his broad shoul
dcrs and uniform only heightened.
81 think not Of myself, lass" he said
putting the eggs in his pocket and but
toning the chickens within his MARTA
breast. 81 think not of myself, and per
haps | often spare that counsel which i
but little needed. Bat l Lave duty t.
my men-to Connecticut. [IIe here tie,
the marmalade up in his handkerchief
l confess l have sometimes thought
might, under provocation, be driven to cX
IRENE measures for the good of the cause
l make no pretense to leadership
butt
''With you at the head of the army,
broke in Thankful enthusiastically
"peace would be declared within II fort
night"
There is no flattery, however outrage
Gus, that man will not accept from tn
woman whom he believes loves him. II
will perhaps doubt its influence in tn
colder judgment Of mankind; but he wi
consider that this poor creature, at lcas
understands him, and in some vague wa
represents the eternal but unrecognizc
verities. And when this is voiced by liz
that are young and warm and red, it
somehow quite as convincing as the blooC
less, remoter utterance of posterity.
: Wherefore the trooper complacentl
buttoned the compliment over his che.
with the pullets.
, 81 think you must go now, Allan" 81
said, looking at him with that pseud
maternal air which the youngest of wome
} sometimes assume to their lovers, as
| the doll had suddenly changed sex an
grown to mans estate. "You must {
{ | now, dear, for it may so chance that faith,
, is considering my absence oyermuch. Yc
q | will come again Wednesday, sweethear
} and you will not 60 to the assemblies, Il,
| visit Mistress Judith, nor take any 81
| pick-a-back again on your black hors
Y and you will let me know when you a
hungry"
I She turned her brown eyes lovingly. y
I | with certain pretty trouble in the bro,
: and such searching, pleading inquil
: in her glance, that the captain kissed h
t at once. Then came the final embrac
Q performed by the captain in a half pc
t functory, quiet manner with due regaI
/. for the friable nature of part of his provi
S ions. Satisfying himself Of the integri
t of the eggs by feeling for them in h
: pocket, he waved military salute wi
n the other hand to Miss Thankful and w
gone. a few minutes later the sound
g his horses hoofs rang sharply from Il
@ icy hillside.
e But as he reached the summit ty
a horsemen wheeled suddenly from {